The Japanese government has announced its Persons of Cultural Merit honorees for 2025, with legendary anime director Rintarō among those recognized. Born Hayashi Shigeyuki, the director is currently 85 years old.
A Career Spanning Decades
Rintarō is celebrated across the anime world for an extensive body of work. He directed the landmark 1979 Galaxy Express 999 film, its sequel Adieu Galaxy Express 999, and the Galaxy Express 999: Emeraldas: The Eternal Warrior special — all based on Leiji Matsumoto‘s beloved franchise. His broader filmography includes Space Pirate Captain Harlock, The Dagger of Kamui, Harmagedon, X/1999, Yona Yona Penguin, and Metropolis. Earlier in his career, he worked personally alongside Osamu Tezuka on Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, and Phoenix: Karma Chapter.
Recent Projects and Autobiographical Manga
Rintarō is currently serving as the original story draft supervisor for a new Toei Animation anime film based on the Galaxy Express 999 franchise. In March 2023, he also returned to directing after a 14-year hiatus with the silent short film “Yamanaka Sadao ni Sasageru Manga Eiga ‘Nezumikozō Jirokichi'”, which screened at the inaugural Niigata International Animation Film Festival.
His autobiographical manga My Life in 24 Frames per Second (1-byō 24-koma no Boku no Jinsei), which launched in January 2024, won the Grand Prize at the 29th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize and has been nominated for Best Graphic Memoir at the 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.
Other 2025 Honorees
Rintarō was recognized alongside several other distinguished figures in Japanese culture and entertainment:
- Masako Nozawa — voice actress behind Son Goku in Dragon Ball and Kitarō in Gegege no Kitarō, becoming the first voice actor ever to receive this honor.
- Keiko Takemiya — manga creator of Toward the Terra, The Door into Summer, and Andromeda Stories.
- Min Tanaka — dancer and actor known for Children of the Sea and the live-action Rurouni Kenshin films.
- Hideki Noda — playwright and actor who served as narrator for the “Tokatonton” anime short.
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